Shade cord pulley



Jun& 25 3934. R B, JOHNSON 1,964,205

SHADE CORD PULLEY Filed June 24, 1933 IN V EN TOR.

A T T ORNEYS.

Patented June 26, 1934 PATENT ()FFICE SHADE CORD PULLEY Ray Application 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a window shade or shutter cord adjusting means and particularly to a structure enabling a cord, rope or wire to be secured quickly. At present the cords on window shades are run over a pulley carried in a bracket. The face of the pulley is formed with right and left hand threads respectively leading to the right and left hand sides of the pulley from a common grooved center. The bracket adjacent the sides of the pulley approaches very close to the pulley so that if the cord is pulled off to the right or left, it jams between the bracket and the pulley. Ihe attached shade or shutter is then held in a desired position. Now the operation of this structure seems very certain and positive when described. However, in actual use, they are not at all certain and positive in operation and much exasperation is occasioned by their failure to grab a cord or to retain a cord.

The generally broad object of the present invention is to provide an improved window cord pulley adjusting means that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and yet is positive in operation.

Another broad object of the present invention is to provide a structure for adjusting and securing a window cord, particularly one enabling the operation of securing the cord to be positively effected.

The invention possesses numerous other advan tageous features and objects, some of which, together with the foregoing will be set forth at length hereinafter. In the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof I have shown the present preferred form of my invention, as is required. However, other forms can be adopted and modifications made without departing from my invention as is defined in the claims.

In said drawing, Figure 1 is a graphic illustration of a window frame and shade with the invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the pulley and its supporting structure. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Figure 4 is a top plan view. Figure 5 is a detail view of the actuating spring.

In its preferred form the pulley structure of my invention includes a bracket structure, usually of cast brass. This structure includes a base 6 and an upright back '7 which have apertures 8 therein to facilitate attachment to a window sill or other structure. The structure also includes a tubular guide 9 through which the window cord, wire or rope 10 is threaded and then passed about pulley 11. A shaft 12 supports the pulley for rotation adjacent the base of the structure so that the 1 cord can be jammed between the two.

B. Johnson, Oakland, Calif.

June 24, 1933, Serial No. 677,509

While the face of the pulley can be provided with the previously described threaded face, I prefer that the pulley be a conicofrustrum and that one side thereof be interrupted by grooves 13 so that the cord will be engaged positively by the pulley and not slip.

In accordance with my invention, means are provided for urging the cord to engage the grooves and to travel along the face of the pulley so as to join between the pulley and the base 6.

In the drawing, this cord urging means consists of a member 14, preferably formed of wire and looped at one end in such manner as to engage a groove formed adjacent the upper end of the tubular guide 9. The lower free end of said member 14 is engaged by a leaf spring 1'7 which is secured within a recess 16 in the base 6. Said spring is provided with a free end which engages the lower end of the wire 14 in such manner as to normally urge the cord engaging member left as viewed in the drawing so that it will normally tend to shift the cord to such a position that it will ride up on the grooved face of the pulley. The spring 17 may engage the member 14 in any 14 to the desired manner, but it is preferred to engage the free end of the spring with a cleft or yoke-like portion in the extremity of the wire 14.

In operation, a pull on the cord will swing the wire 14 to the right, against the bias of the spring.

Movement of the cord then releases the cord from its jammed position between the pulley and the base. So long as the cord is tensioned straight away from the pulley, it runs freely over the pulley. However, the instant the tension on the cord is released, the spring urges the wire to push the the wire moves very positively cured and one the cord so as to jam as is structures.

I claim:

1. A shade cord pulley of the character described comprising a base provided with an upwardly extended tubular shade cord guide, a pulley rotatably mounted in said base adjacent the lower portion of said guide, a depending cordengaging arm rotatively supported by the tubular guide and so positioned as to engage the cord, and resilient means supported by the base and engaging said cord-engaging member in such manner as to normally urge said member toward said cord.

2. A shade cord pulley of the character described comprising a base provided with an upcord onto the grooves and jam. In use, the cord into a jamming position so that a positive operation is sedoes not have to attempt to thread the case with present wardly extended tubular shade cord guide and also with a recess, a pulley rotatably mounted in said base adjacent the lower end of said guide, a wire cord-engaging member rotatably engaging the upper end of said guide and depending to a position to normally engage the cord, and a spring located within said recess and so positioned as to engage the lower end of said cord-engaging arm in such manner as to normally urge said arm toward said cord.

3. A shade cord pulley of the character described comprising a base provided with a recess in its lower portion and with an upwardly extended tubular shade cord guide, a pulley rotatably mounted in said base between said recess and said guide, a wire cord-engaging member provided with a looped portion rotatably engaging the upper end of said guide and having its lower end provided with a cleft portion, and a spring having one end secured in said recess and the other end engaging the cleft end of said cord engaging member in such manner as to normally urge said member toward said cord.

RAY B. JOHNSON. 

